Accord Will Be on the ballot, says Governor Adeleke
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday assured supporters of the Accord Party that the party would feature on the ballot in the August 15 governorship election, expressing confidence that he would secure a second term in office.
Speaking at the official flag-off of his re-election campaign at Freedom Park, Osogbo, the governor urged party members not to be discouraged by ongoing legal and political controversies surrounding the party.
“Accord will be on the ballot, your votes will count, and I will be re-elected as your governor on August 15,” Adeleke declared before a large crowd of supporters.
He said the party was pursuing all legal avenues to protect its right to participate in the election.
“All lawful means are being deployed to sustain and retain our rights to vote and be voted for. We will not bow to dark forces; we remain courageous and we shall again be victorious by the special grace of God,” he said.
The governor charged party members to intensify mobilisation across the state, insisting that the Accord remained a legally recognised political party.
“Go out to all voting units and mobilise for the Accord. Our party remains a duly registered political party in this country. Rule of law must prevail. Democracy must survive,” he added.
Adeleke also revisited the protracted local government crisis in the state, describing recent developments as a victory for democracy and commending elected council officials for their patience.
“I congratulate Osun people on the victory over the local government issue. We have deployed democratic tools to flush out impostors in our council secretariats,” he said.
The governor renewed his call on security agencies to withdraw protection from those occupying council secretariats, whom he described as illegal occupants.
“I hereby repeat my directive to the Commissioner of Police to stop forthwith his protection for the illegal occupation of our council secretariats,” Adeleke stated.
He also accused the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of collaborating with sacked local government officials and demanded accountability for local government funds.
“I call on the United Bank for Africa to end its unholy alliance with court-sacked APC council chairmen. I demand that our diverted council funds must be fully accounted for by the bank and the sacked chairmen,” he said.
The governor thanked various professional bodies, labour unions, market associations, youth groups, religious organisations and thousands of defectors who endorsed his re-election bid at the rally.
According to him, the endorsements were a reflection of public appreciation for his administration’s performance since assuming office in 2022.
Adeleke listed achievements in education, healthcare, water supply, infrastructure, fiscal transparency and debt reduction as evidence of his administration’s impact on the state.
He noted that Osun had improved significantly in national educational rankings, primary healthcare delivery and access to potable water, while also reducing its debt burden and infrastructure deficit.
Seeking a fresh mandate, the governor unveiled an updated five-point agenda centred on youth and women’s welfare, infrastructure development, agro-industrial expansion, affordable healthcare and education, and job creation through an improved business environment.
“As we seek your votes on August 15, we also restate our endorsement of our son, father and leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for re-election in 2027. Our support for Mr President is unshaken and total,” he said.
Adeleke urged residents to remain peaceful and steadfast in defending their democratic rights, warning against any attempt to intimidate voters ahead of the election.
“We cannot and must not go back to the dark days. We must rise and defend our democratic rights. We cannot be intimidated in the exercise of our voting rights,” he said.
The governor concluded by expressing confidence in victory at the polls.
“Accord will be on the ballot. We will vote. Our votes will count. We shall be victorious,” he declared.
